Plan at least half a day in its capital, Hannover, to see the Herrenhausen
Gardens (intricate flowerbed patterns and one of the
largest garden fountains in Europe) and walk amidst clean “new German”
architecture (almost all of the old city was destroyed by firebombing
raids in World War II). Today nearly 60% of the city is preserved as parkland
or forest. Goslar, about 45 mi/72 km southeast of Hannover (near
the former East German border), is home to the Kaiserpfalz, which was
an emperor’s residence; a tour of the structure takes about an hour. Goslar
also has many medieval timbered homes that are still standing. Near Goslar
is the town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, which has the largest wooden
church in Europe. Consider taking a cruise down the Weser River from Hannoversch-Munden
to Hameln, south of Hannover (arrive at least an hour before the
boat leaves Munden, to admire the splendid framework art of its
buildings). The 90-mi/145-km trip takes about a day, passing through the
area that inspired legends such as “The Pied Piper of Hameln” and several
of Grimm’s fairy tales. In Corvey, stop to see the 9th-century
Benedictine abbey, and its glorious frescoes.